Carew hat-trick buries Reading

07/03/2010

John Carew secured Aston Villa’s passage to the FA Cup semi-finals with a second-half hat-trick in the Birmingham side’s 4-2 win over Reading this afternoon.

Giant killers Reading looked all set to claim another Premier League scalp with a brilliant first-half performance against a lacklustre Villa team. Ireland striker Shane Long grabbed a brace to give the Royals a 2-0 lead at the break.

However, Martin O’Neill’s half-time team talk worked a treat and Villa pulled one back through Ashley Young on 47 minutes. Carew then helped himself to a hat-trick denying Reading their first semi-final place since 1927.